19 years after some komodo dragon eggs were dumped on Emerald Isle, North Carolina (actually Queensland, Australia), a young boy (Kevin Zegers) barely escapes an attack that claims the lives of his parents and his dog. Months later, in an effort to trigger an emotional response from the traumatized boy, a shrink (Jill Hennessy) and an uptight aunt (Nina Landis) bring the boy back to the nearly-abandoned island and discover a dozen or so "fifteen" foot long komodo dragons, driven mad by starvation and eager to gobble up human flesh (hey, it's all that's available). A black ferryboat captain (an early victim), a scientist (used to explain all things komodo) and a gung-ho military type round out the cast of stock characters who've been around since the 1930's. I deduct more points for lack of any humorous touches, a half-assed (and very typical) cover-up subplot and several phony/sappy dramatic moments. The monsters, a mix of CGI and animatronics (some by Phil Tippett), are pretty good, though. Not surprisingly, the director and Tippett are two of the many masterminds behind the Oscar-winning FX in JURASSIC PARK, in which this is just a second-hand rehash.
